Liam Payne Says Being in One Direction ‘Nearly Killed’ Him

The "Strip That Down" singer, who first catapulted into the public eye during his X-Factor audition at 14 years old, revealed during an interview with KISS FM that his fan-crazed run with the mega-popular One Direction "nearly killed" him.

After the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, Payne now 24, said he was hesitant to pursue a solo career in fear that it would bolster his existing stardom.

“There have been some tough times,” he explained. “When the band started our break I struggled with the idea of becoming famous again. It scared the living daylights out of me, because the last time it nearly killed me, frankly. So I had to figure out a way to make it work for me, rather than me work for it.”

Ultimately, though, he decided to press forward: He's released a string of singles over the course of the last year, including recent J Balvin team-up "Familiar," and his debut solo album is due out September 14.

He credits his friends and family for helping him to push on.

"I speak to a lot of people who are in the same position as me because I have grown up in the public eye," he continued. "I love my life, it’s been fantastic but there have been a lot of struggles to get to this point. It’s about having good people around you. They don’t have to be a psychologist – just people who are friendly, someone to talk to."